Viktor Fischer was very much an unknown quantity when he arrived at Boro 12 months ago.

A year down the line and that's still very much the case.

There's something there, isn't there. Definitely. We've been limited to flashes of Fischer this season rather than a regular view of the Danish international but he's shown glimpses of the urgency and attacking instincts that Boro have lacked - but without doing enough to ever look like nailing down a regular spot in the starting XI.

At least that was the case in the Premier League.

But as attention turns from disappointment at relegation to planning for promotion, Fischer is one of those who slots into the category of perhaps - in the long run - benefiting from the drop; of being one of Boro's hopes for next season.

But will he be able to turn cameos into consistent shows of quality? In flashes, Yanic Wildschut looked a world-beater and Muzzy Carayol a matchwinner. The key in the Championship - and any league for that matter - is maintaining form, not dipping in and out by the week.

Inconsistency comes with the territory of being a certain type of winger, particularly in the Championship.

But that's what may well play in Fischer's favour. He's hard to categorise. He's got versatility on his side. When he joined Boro last summer the word from Holland was that he's never been a "typical Ajax winger".

"He was a menace on the left: bright, sharp and dangerous," was the verdict in the match report that day, pointing out that he'd given Aitor Karanka something to think about ahead of the opening day visit of Stoke.

High points, though, would be hard to come by for Fischer. Only once this season has he played the full 90 minutes - at Southampton in December.

On reflection, his debut campaign in England was perhaps summed up as he cut a frustrated figure after being forced off through injury in the 12th minute of the home win over Swansea.

Read More

He wouldn't feature again in the league until May 13 when he was brought off the bench against Southampton.

So of his 438 minutes of Premier League football, only 30 have come since December 17.

So why the hope that Fischer can play a central role next season?

Well in what was a dispiriting and flat performance in the home defeat to Southampton, he added the urgency and pace the side was crying out for when he was brought off the bench for the last half hour and set up the goal for Patrick Bamford with a teasing corner from the left. His set-piece delivery is very good.

And despite being very much a fringe figure for Boro , he still notched three assists, and created three of what the Premier League stats bods deem to be "big chances" this season.

And we shouldn't forget he's only 22. And that this was his first season in a difficult league playing in a team that was set-up to defend.

Fischer isn't a player who will be content to let years pass him by. Off the pitch he's a deep thinker and a hard worker.

For all the comedic elements of Ben Gibson's excellent takeover of the club's official Snapchat account back in October, there was one clip where Fischer was on his own working hard at his own core strength programme after training for the day had finished.

And there was one Thursday earlier in the season when I was over at Rockliffe to interview a player. While waiting I was looking out at the training pitches and noticed one figure going through his own drills after the morning training session was done and dusted. That was Fischer.

Now, though, he must look to step up. To take charge of games. The Championship is an unforgiving league but the winger needs to now turn potential into performances.

Celtic and Fenerbahce have both been linked this summer but if, as expected, Fischer stays then he needs to be playing - and delivering - regularly. His place in the Denmark squad - with the national side well in with a shout of qualifying for next summer's World Cup - will depend on it.